As I finally approached my gate I was glad that I had planned a long layover because I would have been panicky with the long delay experienced at the counter. I did not see Madeline at all land as it turned out when she did arrive that her flight had indeed been delayed on both ends. Luckily her wait at the counter was about half of mine. I quickly spotted two ladies who just looked like they would be in my group and as I got closer I saw the bright orange identifying tags on their luggage so we chatted and Mitch and Marshall joined Carol and Carolyn and I and then Madeline arrived shortly before our 11:59 pm take off. That was considered Tour DAY ONE!
The flight was one of the best I have been on. The seat had plenty of space between me and the seat in front, their was no one next to me and I got really comfortable after my long day and snuggled into the very warm, large, and propped my pillow against the window to try to sleep...something I am not good at at home much less on a plane! I was glad I wasn't sleeping because they served one of the most delicious flight dinners I have ever had. I did finally try to sleep and didn't but did doze and didn't even try to watch a movie.
We arrived in Lima promptly at 5:39 am and quickly moved through the almost empty luggage collection and customs process. He took us upstairs where there were familiar names and explained the boarding process for the one hour flight to Cuzco.
While we waited we got to know the other 33 in our group. We met more of our group and everyone seems very interesting and quite diversified. Mike and Ursula are a young couple from Toronto. He is originally from New York but love changes everything. He is going to be getting his Canadian papers and will have dual citizenship. He says it is easier to travel ont he Canadian passport. Craig and Lucy are also from Toronto and their daughter is taking both the American and the Canadian Boards to be an Optometrist.
We were met in Cuzco by Luis who is our guide while here. Cuzco is over 11,000 feet above sea level so they promptly loaded our luggage into a bus and we boarded for the two hour drive to Yucay. This area in The Sacred Valley is only 8,000 ft so we will have better luck aclimetizing. Along the way we stopped at the highest point of just over 12,000 feet to view the green valley below.
This valley sacred to the Incas was not where they actually lived. They perched on the mountain sides,building terraced fields which are still in use today. They came into the valley below to meet, create their business centers, and join forces against the Spanish. And to farm the flat lands. I did not know that in this sacred valley was the birthplace of one of the most sacred crops to the Irish...the potato. Today there are still grown here over 800 varieties of spud brought to Europe first by the Spanish Conquistadors.
When we finally arrived at Posada Sonesta we found a beautiful former monastery which is now a comfortable and very expensive, gracious hacienda. The spacious courtyards and lovely central garden is surrounded by big rooms with very fancy bathrooms and reclaimed wood floors if the originals were gone. Outside our window are Alpacas grazing, and snow capped Andes!
We were welcomed with hot Coca tea and gigantic old fashioned room keys. And boy did that room look good to me. I was really going to enjoy my over-pillowed queen sized bed but first a welcome cocktail. I apologize for my spelling of local items because of the language barrier and my only Spanish is horticulture related. I think the frothy, limey drink was a Pissac Sour. everyone introduced themselves and we headed off to a delightful dinner around the stone fireplace of the hotel restaurant called the INKAFE!
The very fancy service really set off the nicely plated dishes. I had an appetizer of brochettes of beef, chicken and alpaca. Yes, alpaca which was quite good, light in color like pork, taste a little like beef and a little chewy. I followed this with delicious chicken and a fruit salad. I avoid salads of greens when you can only drink the bottled water.
I thought for sure I would crash as it had been over about 37 hours since I had first gotten out of bed Sunday morning. I guess I was over tired because sleep did not come. So I started writing this blog and am struggling to learn the Tablet differences. Last night, for example I had no trouble adding pictures but have wasted a valuable hour tonight trying to show you the McDonald's and Papa John's and Dunkin Donuts at the Cuzco airport and some photos of this lovely hotel nestled in the majestic mountains. I will try to get better but took so much time that I thave not told you about today.
It will have to wait. I need to shower and get some sleep tomorrow we set out ...down hill...to Machu Picchu itself.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Taking Flight...November18
The flights were fine, all of them, but the chaos at the airport in Miami was not amazing but just weird. After a quick claim stop at the baggage carousel I thought I had plenty of time to wander around the airport, maybe have dinner, and maybe even meet up with others from our tour group. I am traveling with SmarTours and it is the first time I have done this kind of a trip. Most things are included but some meals will be on our own. It was a couple of hours before I met my fellow travelers.
After collecting my bag I went to check in for my next flight and recheck my bag after customs. I found the place to check in for LAN flight 2507 to Lima, Peru and got in line. I have never been in a line like that if there wasn't a roller coaster at the end of it. No joke. The queue line wound around to the counter where it took fifteen minutes or more to process one passenger. I finally made it to the third loop of the line when an employee came through and took everyone out of the line if we were going to Lima. They wanted to ticket only the Chile flight. After about one hour and fifteen minutes of being in line to get only about half way we started over in a new line that was not allowed to enter the stanchions until 8:00! If they had told us that before I would have been happier. Once we did enter the line they held us up again because they were still working on the Chile flight.
A great part of the problem was the enormous amount of luggage. People literally had as many as ten bags to check in...at $116 per extra case. Not for a family but per person in each family. And then of course two carry ons each. Incredible piles of stuff. A lot of the bags were green saran wrapped...$15 each...and marked as security proved baggage. I asked the young man who, after a total of two and a half hours of my waiting in line, finally checked me in about all the bags. I thought maybe people worked here and were going home for the winter. No, they come to the states to shop! The flights are relatively cheap and the prices are so significantly better that they shop for everything. So the HP boxes weren't just used to make packing easy, they were new computers! Televisions, baby equipment, and clothes and shoes galore. They fly in with the two carry on bags and buy enough suitcases as they buy the other things with which to fill them!
The security wrap was especially popular for those continuing on to Buenos Aries. Those bags would have no reason to be searched in Santiago and therefore less likely to have property stolen in the airport in either Chile or Argentina! Of course some of our neighbors to the south had been to Disney World and were lugging along giant Mickeys and Minnies as well. So, dear friends, the U.S. economy is booming in South Florida and the balance of trade is in our favor!
After collecting my bag I went to check in for my next flight and recheck my bag after customs. I found the place to check in for LAN flight 2507 to Lima, Peru and got in line. I have never been in a line like that if there wasn't a roller coaster at the end of it. No joke. The queue line wound around to the counter where it took fifteen minutes or more to process one passenger. I finally made it to the third loop of the line when an employee came through and took everyone out of the line if we were going to Lima. They wanted to ticket only the Chile flight. After about one hour and fifteen minutes of being in line to get only about half way we started over in a new line that was not allowed to enter the stanchions until 8:00! If they had told us that before I would have been happier. Once we did enter the line they held us up again because they were still working on the Chile flight.
A great part of the problem was the enormous amount of luggage. People literally had as many as ten bags to check in...at $116 per extra case. Not for a family but per person in each family. And then of course two carry ons each. Incredible piles of stuff. A lot of the bags were green saran wrapped...$15 each...and marked as security proved baggage. I asked the young man who, after a total of two and a half hours of my waiting in line, finally checked me in about all the bags. I thought maybe people worked here and were going home for the winter. No, they come to the states to shop! The flights are relatively cheap and the prices are so significantly better that they shop for everything. So the HP boxes weren't just used to make packing easy, they were new computers! Televisions, baby equipment, and clothes and shoes galore. They fly in with the two carry on bags and buy enough suitcases as they buy the other things with which to fill them!
The security wrap was especially popular for those continuing on to Buenos Aries. Those bags would have no reason to be searched in Santiago and therefore less likely to have property stolen in the airport in either Chile or Argentina! Of course some of our neighbors to the south had been to Disney World and were lugging along giant Mickeys and Minnies as well. So, dear friends, the U.S. economy is booming in South Florida and the balance of trade is in our favor!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Packed for Andes and Islands
It took some doing today to figure out the packing mystery all in one short afternoon. My out of town company left early this morning...that means 6 am...so at 5 am I was making coffee! It would have been good to sleep late today and try to merge my lifestyle to the late nights and early mornings that are to come. I leave Miami just before midnight tomorrow so since I am not an airplane sleeper some pre -adjustment would have been smart.
My day continued with me babying my aching back but thankfully it is better, not great but better. But I couldn't get much done and I sure couldn't relax with the electrician here. It took practically all day to change over one wall switch! I did go out and pick up one library book while he was here...I was afraid the library would close and it would have before he was through.
So here is the test of my tablet. It is a little tricky to keep the cursor in the right place because my resting thumb brushes the very sensitive touchpad. But it is way easier than using an Android touch screen for word entry. I will now try to add a link and a photo. Then I think I have to crash!
You can learn more about our first stops here. Machu Picchu is at the beginning of the trip!
Here is a picture of Skeeter waiting to go to bed for the night.
My day continued with me babying my aching back but thankfully it is better, not great but better. But I couldn't get much done and I sure couldn't relax with the electrician here. It took practically all day to change over one wall switch! I did go out and pick up one library book while he was here...I was afraid the library would close and it would have before he was through.
So here is the test of my tablet. It is a little tricky to keep the cursor in the right place because my resting thumb brushes the very sensitive touchpad. But it is way easier than using an Android touch screen for word entry. I will now try to add a link and a photo. Then I think I have to crash!
You can learn more about our first stops here. Machu Picchu is at the beginning of the trip!
Here is a picture of Skeeter waiting to go to bed for the night.
Well this seems to be working and I think I will be able to include you in all my exciting adventures. Next stop Miami International
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands
I am beginning this on Thursday, November 15, 2012 as I struggle to prepare for a trip very different from my usual one. This time I fly to Miami and then on to Lima, Peru and then on to Cuzco which is surely one of the highest cities in the world. Perched atop the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 10,800 feet. Yes that is double the height of Denver and then some. They actually have oxygen bars there since the air is so rarefied. Our goal upon reaching this towering site is to spend two days in Machu Picchu which is the ancient Incan capital, and religious, and royal city.
I hope to be able to blog and to post and keep in touch since we will be staying in hotels and I think I will have internet.I don't have a 'bucket list' but if I did this would be on it! When we leave the Andes we hang out on the equator and play with the tortoises and the Blue Footed Boobies in the islands.
The 17 day trip will feature nine (9) flights, six (6) hotels, and one (1) ship! Like I say, not my usual thing but I know I am a lucky person to have the freedom and ability to enjoy all the adventures on which I embark!
I hope to be able to blog and to post and keep in touch since we will be staying in hotels and I think I will have internet.I don't have a 'bucket list' but if I did this would be on it! When we leave the Andes we hang out on the equator and play with the tortoises and the Blue Footed Boobies in the islands.
The 17 day trip will feature nine (9) flights, six (6) hotels, and one (1) ship! Like I say, not my usual thing but I know I am a lucky person to have the freedom and ability to enjoy all the adventures on which I embark!
Friday, September 7, 2012
Preparing for Russia
Hello friends, I am back again. As you know I don't blog if I have to pay for internet while traveling. On river cruises the internet is free so you will soon be getting posts from Russia. I have long wanted to visit Moscow. As a child during the Cold War my Dad had a chance to work there for United Press International. He was excited about the opportunity but when he found out he needed to arrange for folks back home to send tires for the car if he was able to get one, and oranges for 'the children' he decided it was maybe not the best choice. Now-a-days I think the decision would have been different. With the ease of international air travel and the value of Skype he might have gone on his own and kept in touch nightly or flown home frequently. And of course, he like the rest of my family, did not like cold weather! That alone might have been a deciding factor. But he did like adventure and seeing new places and the extra money he would have brought home.
I now need to practice and see if I can work within the new parameters of the revised Blogger site. Let me practice by posting a picture of my dad.
I don't have one of my dad on this computer and would scan one in but the photo albums are currently at my brother's home. So this is my brother Doug and me and in truth when the opportunity for Moscow came up we would have been about 7 or 8 years older! But thanks for feedback on this new trial post.
I now need to practice and see if I can work within the new parameters of the revised Blogger site. Let me practice by posting a picture of my dad.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Downunder Coming Up
I hate evening flights! Slept in a little late this Saturday morning but it is going to be a very long day. Karen is picking me up for the airport at 3:00 this afternoon for my 6:00 flight to LAX. There I have an hour and a half to change terminals and meet up with my friend Madeline for Air New Zealand's fifteen hour flight to Auckland! Maybe it is even longer. Can't do the math with the time and date changes, sorry. Because of datelines we arrive at 8:00 am Monday morning! Why do I do this to myself.
I sort of wish that we had booked our own air. Then we could have flown out a couple of days early to Los Angeles or even Hawaii and recovered from the first leg of the flight. Of course our thirty nine day cruise would have been even longer. But we would have had a chance to see my friends Carol and Michael and also to just get adjusted.
I will be adding to this blog as internet connections permit. I will not pay for internet service on board a cruise ship as it is very expensive and extremely slow. For 75 cents a minute you can't even send off one email. So you can imagine what blogging would cost.
The day we arrive we will be escorted to our ship. I hope that goes quickly and smoothly as we would like the time to see a little of Auckland before beginning our voyage on the Celebrity Century. Of course we also need recovery time. Our first all day tour begins early Tuesday morning to the geothermal fields outside of Tauranga, NZ.
If you are interested in seeing where I am you can use this link to follow our ship's position. I must now go dry my hair, get into my travel clothes, turn off water and unplug things and finally make sure all my last minute things are in my suitcase jacket (more about that later.) Enjoy! See you all soon.
I sort of wish that we had booked our own air. Then we could have flown out a couple of days early to Los Angeles or even Hawaii and recovered from the first leg of the flight. Of course our thirty nine day cruise would have been even longer. But we would have had a chance to see my friends Carol and Michael and also to just get adjusted.
I will be adding to this blog as internet connections permit. I will not pay for internet service on board a cruise ship as it is very expensive and extremely slow. For 75 cents a minute you can't even send off one email. So you can imagine what blogging would cost.
The day we arrive we will be escorted to our ship. I hope that goes quickly and smoothly as we would like the time to see a little of Auckland before beginning our voyage on the Celebrity Century. Of course we also need recovery time. Our first all day tour begins early Tuesday morning to the geothermal fields outside of Tauranga, NZ.
If you are interested in seeing where I am you can use this link to follow our ship's position. I must now go dry my hair, get into my travel clothes, turn off water and unplug things and finally make sure all my last minute things are in my suitcase jacket (more about that later.) Enjoy! See you all soon.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
January 2012
Going to continue to 'blog' as Intentional Traveler. I haven't found a way to create a 'new book' under this pseudonym so thing may blend together. Last November Karen, Christine and her family and I all cruised on the Carnival Dream. Didn't blog it but am going to try to get back in the swim of things starting now. On this coming Wednesday Karen, Katie and I set out on one of our 'throw away' cruises. Three nights on the Carnival Sensation out of Port Canaveral to Nassau. We need some sun, sea, and sand. More importantly our rum supplies are getting low.
Today is a momentous day to begin again as the Costa Concordia sank last night. It looked like a beautiful ship and was one of the new mega ships. I am sure discussion will continue about the safety common sense of having almost 5000 passengers and crew on one little floating vessel!
Today is a momentous day to begin again as the Costa Concordia sank last night. It looked like a beautiful ship and was one of the new mega ships. I am sure discussion will continue about the safety common sense of having almost 5000 passengers and crew on one little floating vessel!
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